When I returned from driving the kids to school this morning, I found a treat bag full of magazines, chocolate, vitamin drink and sunshiney-yellow, we're-here-to-cheer tulips.

Instead of resisting the love and support of my friends and family (I'm fine, I can do it all), I fell, open-hearted into their healing sustenance. I said,

"Yes, thank you, I'd love that and so would Henry."

"Would you please bring me a pint of Hagan Daas chocolate and a rotisserie chicken?"

"Thank you, love, I'll do just that."

And I did. I went to bed. And slept, A LOT.

And even though I'm still sickly and curled up in my sick lair, interestingly, I feel lifted as I lounge, supported. Saying Yes to help is a really, really good thing. Saying Yes to support is as healing of an action as I can imagine.

We've been hit by a bug here, too. And I've been rotating the help (i.e., grandparents) so that I can take time off and recover. Asking for help is hard for me, and doing so feels like I'm breaking the rules. But I'm working on it, one cold at a time. Hope you are feeling 100% soon!

Why is it so hard, so unbelievably hard, to accept offers of assistance even when we need them most? I don't know. But I'm the same way. The other day on the bus, a man offered to give me his seat (since I am eight months pregnant and look eleven months pregnant) and even though I so wanted (and needed) that seat, what did I say? I said, "That's okay. I'm fine." Why? Why not just say, "Yes, please. Thanks so much."

I was just having this conversation with a friend literally 30 minutes ago. As independent women, it is hard to accept help even when we need it. In some ways it is kind of liberating to actually respond, "Why yes, I could really use your help. Thanks."

About Me

I am woman. A mother. A writer. This blog encompasses my journey--my reflections--to share the universal grit of motherhood, of life. Thank you for sharing some of your time with me. To contact me, please email musingsdemommy@gmail.com.